Ironing



E. N. LIGHTFOOT.

momma APPLIANCE FOR SHOE TREEING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. I9, 19]]- Patented Dec. 16, 1919.

2 SHEETSSHEET 1.

4 A TTORIVEY E. N. LIGHTFOUT. v IBONING APPLIANCE FOR SHOE TREEING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. I9. 1917.

Patented Dec. 16, 1919.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2- [N V EN TOR 3 506216 09 6- BY%&M M. 1 ATTORNEY UNITED STATES IATENT OFFICE.

EDWIN N. menrroo'r, 0E NEW YORK, N. Y, ASSIGNOR 130 THE c TLEE-HAMMEE v 00., OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF WISCONSIN.

IRONING APPLIANCE FOR SHOE-TREEING MACHINES.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWIN N. Licrrrroo'rp a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of Bronx and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in, Ironing Appllancesfor Shoe-Treeing Machines, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being bad to the accompanying drawing, forming a part of vthls specification.

This invention relates to ironing appliances forshoe treeing' machines and more particularly to those employing electricity.

for heating. a

It has heretofore been proposed to provide treeing irons with electrlcal heating elements and to connect the irons in circuit by 3 cords as in the case of laundry irons. Much difficulty has, however, been experienced in providing an electrically heated iron s'ufficiently rugged to withstand the exceedmgly hardusage met with in such service and it has been found that cord connections for such irons are very impracticable. The cords interfere with the use of the iron and are so frequently injured by-"carelessness of the user as to be an almost constant-source of trouble and expense.

The present inventlon has among its objects to provide a convement, safe and compact treeingiron appliance obviating the necessity for cord connection of the iron and to provide a more rugged and durable iron.

wherein the electrical elements are protected against deterioration due to accident or rough usage.

substantially on line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a similar view line 4-4of Fig. 2; I

Fig. 5 is a view simllar to Flg, 1 but with the cover of the inclosed part of the appliance removedand'showing certain of the inclosed parts sectioned;

substantially on Specification of Letters Patent.

Fig. 6 'is a longitudinal sectional view substantially on line 66 of Fig. 7 looking in Patented Dec. 16,1919..

Application filed March 19, 1917. Serial No. 155,786.

alsollooking in the direction of the arrows;

and,

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic view showing the electrical connections employed in the three preceding figures.

Referring to the drawing, the appliance includes an electrically heated treeing iron 1. and a stand 2 to receive and support said jiron, said stand being provided with suitable line connected contacts adapted to be engaged by codperating contacts on said iron for heating the latter, said stand being further provided with suitable circuit controlling and current regulating elements.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1 to 4, the treeing iron includes a longitudinally bored metallic body 3 of usual exterior dimensions and contour, a heating element 4 located within the bore thereof, a metallic core 5 located inside said'heating element and a pair of operative handles 6, 7 connected to said iron in spaced relation thereto.

The heating element 4, which is essentially of the type disclosed in my-copending applii cation, Serial No. 61,654, filed Nov. 15,1915, is of hollow cylindrical form and adapted to fit snugly within the bore of the body 3 while the core 5 likewise-fits snugly within the said heating element whereby .dead space within the iron is eliminated and the heating element is maintained inintimate-contact with the mass to be heated.

The core5 is provided with an annular shoulder 8 which snugly engages within the bore of the body 3 and in practice is preferably welded thereto in flush relation with the end thereof to form a and waterproof joint therewith. The outer end of said core projects an appreciable distance beyond the end surface of said iron to form a stop as hereinafter described, while the projecting end of the core'is bored out and screw threaded to receive a rod 9 to which A substantially elliptical plate 1Q having a centrally located bore therein is inset flush with the opposite end of the body 3 and rigidly secured thereto by means of screws 11 to form therewith a rugged but.

readily releasable joint. A tubular member 12 is Welded or otherwise secured within the bore of theplate and extends'outwardly L from said body portion while a metallic ring 13 i Welded about the'tube 12'substantially at its middle portion.

- A cylindrlcal sulating. plug 14 having a reduced end portlon 15 1 and being otherwise of the same external diameter asthe tube 12 is attached to the latter by having its reduced end inserted therewithin and secured thereto by means of a pin -16. The handle 7 which is hollow throughout its length, and provided at its inner end with a rigidly. anchored ferrule insulatin 17, is telescopically fitted over the outer end lating tube 22 located within vthe tube 12, an

insulating barrier 23 located Within said inner tube serving toseparate said wires passin therethrough,

' he insulating block 14 is provided with longitudinally extending grooves or channels 24, 25 to receive said wires, the channel a 25 extending the entire length of the said block and the channel 24 terminating a short distance from'the outer end thereof.

The wire 20 is attached by means of a screw 26 to a projecting terminal contact 27 which .is screwed within the outer end of the block 147Whilethe wire 19 is soldered 'or otherwiseattached to a conducting plate 28 inset within the said block at the end of the channel 24. An annular terminal contact 29 snugly engages the outer end of the handle 7-but in spacedrelation to the contact 27, said collar being electrically connected with the plate 28 by means of a screw 30 passingthrough said contact and the adjacent portion ofsaid handle and entering said plate, thus serving to electri "cally connect the terminal contact with the The employmentof the tube 12 in the relation, described is. of importance since in addition to providing an inclosure for theheating element leads, the tubular constr'uction furnishes the requisite mechanical strength and rigidity with a minimum fiber block or amount of metal, thus reducing to a minimum the conduction of heat to the handle 7.

The portion of the said tube between the plate 10 and the ring 13 i preferably flat-' tened to the approxlmate diameter of the inclosed insulating tube 22, and in the plane of greatest breadth of the body 3 thus ren- I dering this portion of the device more readily conformable to the surface to which the iron is applied in operation.

The heating stand 2 includes a terminal box 31 having an opening 32 to receive the handle 7 of the treeing iron and to support the same with its contacts in engagement with the line connected contacts located within said box, said box being mounted upon 'a bed plate 33 which is upbent at its free end to form a supporting bracket 34 for the opposite end of the treeing iron. The upper end of the bracket 34 is bifurcated at 35 to receive the rod 9 and provides a positive support therefor, while the stop on the core 5 is adapted to abut the inner face of the bracket 34 for maintaining the aforesaid cooperating contacts in forcible engagement.

When the treeing iron ,is placed upon the stand with the handle 7 inserted in the opening 32, the conductive collar 29 rests upon a line connected contact 36 which comprises an angle'bent conductive strip anchored at 37 to a. fixed insulating block 38 and further secured thereto by a screw,39, said strip being provided with a screw line terminal 40. A bored insulating block 41 resting upon thecontact 36 serves to support a line connected contact 42 which comprises an elongated and shouldered conductive plug having an enlarged fiat contacting head 43 and being mounted for reciprocation within "a metallic tube 44 lying in the core of said block and securedtherein byimeansof lock nuts ,45, 46. A conductive terminal strip 47 having a screw terminal 48 is anchored at '49 within said block and further secured thereto by being clamped inside the 100k nut 45, which serves also to maintain said strip in electrical engagement with the tube 44, said 'strip being bored to circumengage said tube. A. bored insulating plu 50 hav-. ing a rigidly anchored ferrule 51 1s axially securedto the tube 44 by screwing said ferrule thereupon, said plug constituting a guide for the reduced portion 52 of the contact 42 which extends through the bore therein and carries therebeyond a washer i 53 held upon'said extension by a suitable key. A helical spring 54 surrounds said reduced extension within the tube 44 and serves to maintain the contact in yieldin engagement with the cooperating contact 2 of the treeing iron while a cage member 55 isinterposed between saidyspring and the shouldered portion of'said contact and surrounds said spring to maintain electrical 011- neqtion between members 42 an 44. The contacting head 43-is of such size as to in-' sure engagement thereof by the contact 27 of the handle 7 whenever the latter is fully I inserted within the opening 32.

An insulating cover block 56 and similar side pieces 57 and 58 serve to complete the insulating housing surrounding. the line connected contacts, said blocks being secured togetherby means of bolts 59, 60. The terminal box 31, which surrounds the above described insulating housing, com prises a metallic casing 61 divided longitudinally into compartments 62 and 63 by an integral partition 64 and having detachable face plates 65, 66 secured to the casing by suitable screws. The insulating housing for the line connected contacts 1s positioned Within the compartment 62 adjacent the opening 32 and secured to the partition 64 by the bolts 60, said compartment also containing a cut-out device 67 including protective fuse plugs 68, 69 screwed within an insul-ating base which is also secured to the partition 64 by means of screws 70. Screw terminals 71, 7 2 and 7 3, 7 4 serve to connectthe respective fuses with suitable conductors which are led within the terminal box through bushing 7 5, while a second bushing 76 extends through the partition 64 -whereby .suitable conductors may be ledwithin the compartment 63 for connection with a current regulating rheostat 7 7 located therewithin.

Said rheostat whichis of well known construction, is-secured to the partition 64 by means of spacing bolts 78 and serves to regulate the current supplied to the line connected contacts 36 and 42 and thereby to the heating element of the treeing iron. A. movable co-ntactor arm 79 is pivoted to the rheostat body at 80 to, coeperate with three fixed contacts 81,82 and 83 whereby three steps of resistance are provided for regulating the heat of the iron to a like number of de-v grees.v An operating handle 84 for the contactor arm projects through a slotted opening 85 in the face plate 66 whereby said rheostat may be operated from outside the terminal box.

Referring particularly to, Fig. 8, the circuitof the appliance hereinbefore described extends from supplyjline L through switch S and fuse 69 to upper rheostat terminal 86 and through that portion of the resistance R determined by the rheostat setting to lower rheostat terminal 87 thence to the contact 36 and through the conductors and heating element of the treeing iron to the resiliently mounted contact 42, returning through fuse 68 andswitch S to line'L'.

Thus the treeing iron may be readily plugged within the terminal box by means of its free handle and locked therewithin by 66- resting the said handle within the'groove tion.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an ironing appliance for a shoe treeing 'machine, the combination with a treeing iron having an electrical heating element embodied therein and having a handle providedwith adjacent terminal contacts for said element, of asupport for said iron having a socket portion into which the contact carrying handle of the iron may be plugged and having within said socket portion line connected contacts to be engaged by the terminal contacts of said handle whereby said iron may be heated when on said support, for subsequent use Without Y line connections.

2. In an ironing appliance for a shoe treeing machlne, the ,comblnation w1th a treeing iron having an electrical heating ele- T ment and having a handle provided w1th adjacent terminal contacts for said element, of a stand for said iron having a supporting part for the contact carrying handle of the latter and line connected contacts to be engaged by the terminal contacts of said handle, said stand further having a part to hold said iron in a position thereon for forcible engagement of said contacts.

3. In an ironing appliance for" a shoe treeing machine, the combination with a treeing iron having an electrical heating element embodied therein and having a handle provided withanend contact and a peripheral annular contact concentric with the former contact, of a stand for said iron having a socket portion to receive said contact carrying'handle and having within said socket portion line connected contacts to be engaged by the contacts on said handle.

4. In an ironing appliance for a shoe treeing machine, the combination with a-treeing iron having an electrical heating element embodied therein and having a handle provided with anend contact and a peripheral annular contact concentric with the former contact, of a stand for said iron having a socket portion to receive said contact carrying handle and having within said socket portion line connected contacts to be engaged by the contacts on saidhandle, certain of said engaging contacts being resilient and said stand further having a part to retain said iron in a position thereon for forcible engagement of said contacts.

5. In an ironing appliance for a shoetreeing machine, the combination with a treeing iron having an electrical heating element embodied therein and provided at opposite ends with operating handles, one provided with adjacent terminal contacts for said element, of a stand for said iron having a socket portion to receive the contact carrying handle and a part'to support the iron ad acent to its opposite end, said socketpor tion having line connectedcontacts for engagement with the contacts on said handle.

6. In an ironing appliance fora shoe treeing machine, thecombination with a tree ing iron having an electrical heating elemen embodied therein and provided at opposite ends with operating handles, one provided 7 with terminal contacts for said element, of

a stand for said iron having a socket por tion to receive the contact carrying'handle and a part to support the iron adjacent to its opposite end, said-socket portion having" line connected contacts for engagement with the contacts on said handle, certain of sa1d' engaging contacts being resilient and said supporting part of said stand afl'ording an abutment for said iron whereby} the latter may be secured in said socket portion of said stand for forcible engagement" of said con- 7 tacts.

I 7. In an electrically heated treeing iron, in combination, abody portion having a reess therein, an electrical heating unit mounted within the. recess of;said body portion, a'hollow handle including an insulating grip fixed to said body portion, aterminal contact projecting from the end of .said handle, a terminal contact surrounding said grip and electrical connections between said unit and said terminal contacts inclosed within said hollow handle.

8. In an electrically heated treeing iron,

the combination with a body portion recessed I longitudinally. from an end thereof, an electrical heating unit insertible into said body portion from the end thereof, a tubular member provided with an integral flange secured to thefend of said body portion ina countersunk relation therewith 'to tightly close the recess containing said unit, a hollow handle grip telescopically fitting said tubular member and terminal leads for said unitextending therefrom through said tubular memberand said hand grip. 1

9. In an electricallyheated'treeing iron the combination ''-with a body portion re-' I cessed longitudinally from an end thereof,

. an electrical heating unit insertible into said body portion from-the end thereof, a tubular member provided with an integral flange secured to the end of said body portion in a countersunk relation therewith to tightly close the recess containing said unit, said tubular member being contracted for general conformation with portion.

10. In an electrically heated treeing iron,

in combination, a body portion recessed lon-.

' unit, terminal leads from said unit passing through said tubularmemben and said plug to said terminal contacts and an inclosing sleeve for said leads arrangedwithin said tubular member between said unit and said plug.

in combination, a body portion, an electrical heating unit incl-osed therein, a tube fixed 'to sald body portion and providing a pas-' sage for the terminal leads from said unit,

1a member telescopically fitting said tube,

said leads and cont-acts to be connected thereto, one of said'contacts being fixed to the end of said member and another to the side thereof and a tubular hand-grip to telescopically fit said member and tube,

11. In an electrically heated treeing iron,

the contour of said body ,said member having separate passages for r said hand-grip having a contact in the peripherythereof and a screw to electrically connect the same with the side contact of said member.-

. 12- In an electrically heated treeing iron, in. combination, a body member recessed from end to end thereof, a member insertible into said body member from one end thereof to centrally occupy the recess within the latter, said members being welded to- 'gether and saidinserted member having an extended portion to support a hand grip, an electrical heating unit oftubular form insertible between said members from the opposite end of said body member and a hollow handle for said body member fixed to the end thereof to cap the unit receiving recess therein and to provide an outlet for the terminal leads of'said unit; l

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed m name, v i

EDWIN N. LIGHTFOOT.

Witnesses: G. P. BRocKwAY, HENRY DmoKs, 

